Combined comfort and health stocking



Sept. 16, 1930. H, BAS'S 1,775,714

COMBINED COMFORT AND HEALTH STOCKING Filed Dec. 50, 1929 jwgm $25 M M Patented Sept.'16, 1930 particular reference to womens hosiery made 7 PATIENT OFFICE UNITED STATES nnnwm nrragiaass, on sUNnYsIDE, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK COMBINED COMFORT AND HEALTH S'JlOCI KIIhl'G Application filed December 30, 1928. Serial No. 417,401.

This invention relates to hosiery, and has of delicate and sheer fabric.

One object of the invention is to provide a stocking having a knee band for the treatment of varicose veins. associated therewith in an improved manner as a unit.

,QAnother object of the invention is to provide a stocking having the usual closed foot portion, and improved means'to open and close the stocking. along the length thereof, whereby the foot of the wearer may be di rectly inserted-in the foot portion of the stocking, avoiding the inconvenience and loss of time incident topulling the stocking on the leg in the usual manner and the poss bility of tearing the delicate fabric of the stocking by strains thereon imposed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved stocking having a hookless fastener for opening and closing the stocking along the length thereof in order that the stocking may tightly embrace the leg of the wearer and yet be .easyto apply to or remove from the leg.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a stocking having a longitudinally -extendin hookless fastener and .improved means 0 crating in conjunction therewith for tightly embracing the limb of the wearer,

said means being in the nature of ankle or knee bandsor both.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the speeifi: cation proceeds. 4

' With the aforesaidobjects in view, the invention consists in the novel combinations and .arrangements of ,parts hereinafter described in their preferred "embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated on the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same refer ence characters throughout the several views. In the-drawing; Fiimre 1 is a perspective view showing a stocking embodying the invention in open positio Fi 2 is a similar view showing thestocking c osed.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sec;

tional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, showing the invention.

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the device as seen on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined'are best realized when, all of its features and instrumentaliti'es are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying vdrawing, therefore, is submitted merely as invention.

Generally described, the invention provides a unitary stocking and knee band for the treatment of varicose veins. The knee band may be associated in any suitable manner with a stocking for rapid and easy application of both or removal from the leg.

referablythe stocking may be opened up along the length thereof to any desired extent at the. said knee (Band, or even to the foot portion of the stocking. J Thus the wearer may also directly and expeditiously insert her foot into the foot portion of the stocking.

by stitchingthe same to the stocking-at edge portions thereoff, The latter maybezreenforced, if necessary, by providing the deli- '.cate material with an integral, heavy portion, that ma be woven directly'therewith. Preferably, t e hookless fastener. terminates above the; ankle portion of the stocking, but

1 other arrangements may also be used. As-

sociated" with the hookless fastener, there may be also an ankle band, which may be drawn tight by the hookless fastenercoinshowing the preferred exemplification of the cident with the closing of the stocking. The knee and ankle bands may constitute a permanent part of the stocking or they may be removably mounted thereon. Also coacting with the hookless fastener, there may be provided an elastic garter element. To render the hookless fastener neat in appearance and suitable for association with the stocking, and also convenient to wear, members co-operate therewith to enclose the same as will be hereinafter described.

Many women have varicose veins which develop particularly about the knees. If these veins are not protected and treated by suitable tension bands. they may swell and become dangerous. However, the application of knee bands is often troublesome, and it is therefore the object of this invention to provide a construction in which the knee band is used as a unit with the stocking and readily drawn tight. V

Referring in detail to the drawing," 10 denotes a stocking embodying the invention, the same being provided with an opening 11 extending from the upper end of the stocking to any desired point along the stocking, adjacent to the knee band 22, or even into proximity to the foot portion 12 thereof, and preferably terminating at the ankle portion 13 of the stocking. Secured to the edges of the stocking at the opening 11 is ahookless fas tener 14, the same being preferably located at the rear face of the stocking. The hookless fastener may terminate preferably sliglitly above the angle portion of the stocking to avoid interference with a shoe.

The knee band 22 is'connected with the hookless fastener as hereinafter described, whereby it is operative as a unit with the stocking in being placed on or removed from a limb, and is released or. drawn tight by the hookless fastener as a unit with the stocking. The application of the stocking is also easier, and particularly so in view of the opening in the stocking, and the latter need not for this purpose extend materially .beyond the knee and, as for exam le at 11".

Where the opening 11 extends to the ankle portion of the stocking, instead of pulling the stocking over the limb in the customary manner, thefoot may be directly inserted into. the foot portion 12 at the lower end 11" of the opening 11. The stocking and e knee band are then laced around the li b, and the hookless astener readily closed by simply moving the slide 15v thereof upward to the upper end of the stocking. The stocking may thus fit very snugly or even tightly around the limb, and yet it may be rapidly applied thereto, without loss of time, or danger of inuring the sheer fabric if this be the nature of the material used, as a result of the stresses to which a stockingvnot provided with the hookless fastener is subjected. It will be apm preciated that the stocking may be used wit out the knee band, or the latter may be removably attached.

In connection with stockings of delicate or sheer fabric, a peculiar utility and advantage of this invention may be appreciated.

To secure the hookless fastener to the material of the stocking, various means ma be provided to equally and uniformly distri ute the tension on the material including the threads thereof. One manner of accomplishing this is to construct relatively heavy portions 16 integral with the delicate material of the stocking and extending along the edges thereof at the opening 11. The portions 16 may be made by a special weaving, or providing a strip of tape, or the like, and interconnecting the same along the said edges of the stocking. To the said portions 16, the hookless fastener is secured by stitching 17. The portions 16 may constitute flaps which in the closed position of the stocking come into close proximity to each other as shown at 18. Thus the limb is protected from direct contact with the hookless fastener.

To cover the exterior of the hookless fastener, strips of fabric 19 are provided which may be secured in place by the stitching 17 These strips are in the nature of flaps, and being of relatively narrow width, will readily lieflat over the fastener. with their edges 20 in substantial registry with each other.

Associated with the hookless fastener, is an ankle band 21 to afford support for the ankle, which is desirable where half shoes are worn. Both the ankel and knee bands 21, 22 may be of any suitable material, such as fabric, and may be permanently secured in place by the stitching 17. The bandsmay be elastic or inelastic as 'may be thought necessary. In either case the bands are applied to the limb as a unit with the stocking, and the hookless fastener serves in one operation to close the stocking and to draw the bands tightly around the limb.

If desired. the ankle and knee bands, together or individually, may be removably secured in association with the hookless fastener. For this purpose, the ends of the said bands may have small wire fastening hooks 23, for removably engaging similar eye members 124 secured to the portions 16. as. for example, adjacent to the stitching 17. Thus the'tension on the bands acts directly onthe hookless fastener.

I By the arrangement shown, the bands are easily detachable from the stocking, and may be used only as desired. However, when interconnected with the stocking, the said bands act as a unit therewith in applying or removmg the stocking from the leg. It will be understood that other fastening devices than 23, 24 shown may be used, it being merely. essent al that they be small andfiat to occupy a minimum of ace.

At the upper end of the stocln'ng an elastic garter element is applied thereto, and the same is closed by the hookless fastener.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a device which fulfills the several objects of the invention and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

While the primary object has been to provide a protective knee band in improved unitary association with the stocking, yet the invention includes other and valuable features .as set forth.

I claim:

Y 1.- A knee protector for varicose veins, including a stocking of sheer or delicate material, said stocking including a closed foot portion, a knee band connected to the stocking, said stocking and knee band having an opening extending lengthwise of the stocking, and means to close said opening.

2. A knee protector for varicose veins, including a stocking of sheer or delicate mate- 1 rial, said stocking including a closed footportion, a knee band removably connected to the stocking, said stocking and knee band having an opening extending lengthwise of the stocking, and hookless means to close said opening.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HEDWIG RITA BASS. 

